Natalie’s Comments (group member since Oct 24, 2015)

Natalie’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Oh Magic Bites. I love the series so much and so many people get stuck on this book. It was their first published book and the series does truly get better the more you read. The second is definitely an improvement and the third is truly great and the series stays great from there. Yes, even Curran. They have an entertaining blog too, I love their about page of how they got into writing.

I didn't get a lot of reading done over the weekend. I got some done on Friday as I got stuck in an airport for a while. Hoping to get HP5 done soon for that arithmancy spot and then back to the Kate Daniels reread in anticipation of Iron and Magic.

Completion Post

Quidditch (book points only)
A Study in Scarlet Women
6/7
336 pages

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
6/8
327 pages
BR: First post for Buddy Read
Spells: A (author), B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I (author), L, M (title), N, O, R, S, T, W
Barabas, Curran, Kate Daniels. Eduardo, Ascansio Ferara, George, Hugh, Lorelei Wilson, Andrea Nash, Julie Olsen, Raphael, Saiman, Tony

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
6/8
361 pages
Spells; A, B, C, E, F, K (author), L, M (author), N, O (title), P, R, S, T, V, W, Y
Addy Prentiss, Brownyn Rojas, Cooper Clay, Evan, TJ Forrester, Laura Wheeler, Nate Macauley, Simon, Vanessa

Through chapter 10

(view spoiler)[One fun part about rereading this books is seeeing how many little details that show up later here or in the series. (hide spoiler)]

My favorite part:
“You're a prefect? Oh Ronnie! That's everyone in the family!"
"What are Fred and I? Next door neighbors?”

I’ll be starting this today. Team Draco Malfoy

Finished

Book (view spoiler)[ The fourth book is my favorite of the series, but this is right up there with it. I know we don’t have the last book yet (but soon!), but upon a reread, this book feels like a shift in the series. While the books are still relatively contained, no major cliffhangers, each book feels like a bit of a set up for the end. I’m so excited for the last book!

My favorite part of this book is when the Shepard saves Kate and they have a nice dinner and discussion. I’ve always found the world in this series fascinating and this scene is a big part of that. I like the idea of these ancients waking up to the changing world. Roland decided to go right back to building an empire. The Shepard just wants to protect his people. Although I always wonder why he waited 20 years.

Kate and Curran. This is such an interesting book for me. Overall, I think Curran screwed up. While I never believed that he would throw over Kate, I do think he handled pretty much everything wrong. One thing I hate in books in stupid manufactured drama between couples. And while this book has a ton of drama that could have been worked out with an honest discussion, it works. Maybe because Kate does push him to be honest with her. He’s not, but he has his reasons. I disagree with them, but understand. I feel a lot of books push the will they won’t they too far because it is easier. But this series I think has taken the absolute right pacing. They didn’t drag out the relationship, issues don’t go away without being discussed, and most importantly I always support the couple.

Hugh. He’s a favorite of mine. I feel he is presented as a romantic foil to Curran, and he’s definitely interested, but I never took him seriously. Kate never seems genuinely interested in him, so I never considered him a rival. I do think in another life, maybe he and Kate could have worked. If she was raised by Roland perhaps? I’m sure there’s some fanfiction out there. I’m super excited for his book in just a few weeks! (hide spoiler)]

Series spoiler (view spoiler)[ Christian is just one of my favorite parts of this book, especially on a reread. My first read I had a feeling there was something to him when Kate won him initially and Hugh was clearly upset. I thought it was just the panacea. But now his comments about angels and flying take on a whole new meaning. (hide spoiler)]

I should start seven soonish. But likely not for a few days. I’m just getting back to this after quidditch.

Through chapter 11, but book spoilers as I can’t just talk about this book.

Lorelei (view spoiler)[ugh. This whole plot line. I forget, did Curran find out about her in that secret meeting on the ship, and decide then to play along? I had forgotten what he learned there. I did read this book assuming that Kate and Curran would stay together and he did have a plan, but this was super frustrating to read. (hide spoiler)]

Desandra (view spoiler)[love her. Mainly because of later actions, but I do love her. (hide spoiler)]

Christian (view spoiler)[ I want to talk so much about him, but it all needs to wait for a later book!! (hide spoiler)]

Hugh (view spoiler)[ so glad to have him back, but I’ll wait until I finish this to dive into my thoughts. (hide spoiler)]

Slytherin Seeker

Jenny has been flying around the quidditch pitch for the last week and a half, occasionally calling out plays and cheering when what does she see? The snitch! She races after it.

Jenny is reading The Titan's Curse - 320 pages - used in Slytherin's first Quaffle

Slytherin Beater

Natalie races to protect Snowtulip. She did make accidentally go towards Karen Michele first as she is the usual target.

Reading A Study in Scarlet Women same as Snowtulip

I just posted a bunch of quidditch books. I think I got them all.

Completion Post for Quidditch books (book points only)

Miracle's Boys
156 pages
6/4

Etiquette & Espionage
320 pages
6/4

Never Never
400 pages
6/4

The Black Cauldron
195 pages
6/4

Love Overboard
272 pages
6/5

The Aeronaut's Windlass
640 pages
6/5

The Ghostwriter
318 pages
6/6

Slytherin Beater

Natalie saves Jen from being interrupted in her path towards the goal!

Love Overboard
6/5

Slytherin Keeper

Louise takes out the Gryffindor quaffle!

Unholy - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller
Date Read: 6/6/18 UK time

(read by Donna - reading to take out the letter U)

Now I'm confused. Based off this post from Shannon:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

My understanding was that as long as the quaffle is intact, chaser chains can score. If a chaser is knocked out by a beater, they can score on that chain after being read back in. I did not understand anything regarding that the chaser has to stop reading.

I have not seen any discussion about whether the beater has to beat the chaser. In this case, Jenny finished, then Jen. Jen needed to be read back in anyway in order to read for another chain which I did. The quaffle is still intact.

Are you saying that once the attacking beater hits the chaser, the chaser is not allowed to read that until being read back in? That was never stated or made clear before, just that they couldn't score. I can't read the captains threads that discussed this issue, but the your post from Sonia does not make that clear. It only reads that the beater has to read the person back in before a goal.

They shoot!

Slytherin Chaser Chain #7

K - Kairos by Mary Calmes - Snowtulip - 154 pages - 6/4
L - Lustlocked by Matt Wallace - Jen - 214 pages - 6/4
M - Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson - Karen Michele - 144 pages - 6/4

AND SLYTHERIN SCORES AGAIN!

Slytherin Beater

Chaser Karen Michele is saved again by Beater Natalie! Karen Michele sure gets attacked a lot.

Miracle's Boys
6/4

Slytherin Beater

Natalie flies in to defend Karen Michele
Reading Miracle's Boys

The Slytherin Chasers are circling around to try again!

Slytherin Chaser Chain #7

K - Kairos by Mary Calmes - Snowtulip - 154 pages
L - Lustlocked by Matt Wallace - Jen - 214 pages
M - Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson - Karen Michele - 144 pages

The Slytherin Chasers shoot!

Slytherin Chaser Chain #6

A - Adrift by Isabelle Adler - Snowtulip - 184 pages - 6/4
B - The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle - Karen Michele - 149 pages - 6/4
C - Coraline by Neil Gaiman - Jen - 160 pages - 6/4

SLYTHERIN SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slytherin Beater

Stacie's bludger connects and Shannon goes down!

She read Rebel Wolf against Shannon's Rebel Wolf
6/4
3 stars

I keep trying to update between quidditch and life. I started Saturday and only got about half a chapter in. Through chapter 4 now.

Also, I think I'll find it difficult to discuss this book without talking about the whole book, so spoilers possible for the whole book.

(view spoiler)[This starts off quick with the drama of Julie's friend going loup, Curran running in with cure that they split, and the plans to go to Europe. I am excited we get to see Europe changed by the shift. And I'm on pins and needles with excitement of all the drama of this book. (hide spoiler)]

Book 7 spoiler (view spoiler)[One thing I paid attention to on this reread so far is the role of the rats as I remember them being upset in the next book about their reduced role. They are used and the alphas are named multiple times, but they don't have a large role. Clan Nimble likely has the smallest role outside of the first two books, but based on what I understand of the clan dynamics, that's not unusual.

When I first read this book, I glossed over Curran cutting the rat representative at the last minute, but this time I was watching for it! (hide spoiler)]